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How might boat designs change in order to allow them to be pulled by dragons?
Dragons and aviation bureaucracyWeapons for Long-armed (Winged) Dragons?How would a dragon be used in a modern military?How can a Dragon Zombie be killed?Dragolitics, or how political structures work when rulership is determined solely by individual mightDragon developmentHow does a castle have sufficient anti-air defenses while still looking like a castle?Viability of Scansoriopterygid wyvernsDragon flight musclesHow could my society potentially “de-claw” dragons in order to work with them safely?
$begingroup$
So in my book, the majority of my society's medieval-era navy is pulled by at least one adult dragon. Adult dragons are huge; their heads alone are about the size of a medium-sized car. How might ship design change in order to accommodate the potential issues caused by a regular ship getting dragged behind a dragon that is the same size or larger than said ship?
These dragons have four limbs: 2 wings (which double as forelimbs when the dragon is not flying), and two hindlimbs. So technically, they are wyverns.
These are fire-breathing dragons. Temperament varies. Ship-pulling dragons would most likely be captive-bred dragons, so they're more tolerant of people and less likely to drown/consume the crew. They are somewhat spiky around the head. They have somewhat long tails with a scythe-like blade at the end. They could be distracted by prey but may have blinders on to prevent that. The dragon itself could contribute to firepower.
These are my dragons. I have them designed and behaving how I want. All I'm asking for is how a ship might be designed differently to be efficiently pulled by dragons, not how the dragons are going to react to it.
The dragons would most likely be flying low over the water instead of swimming, so most likely some sort of stabilization would be needed. They are capable of soaring long distances in the right conditions, so unless it was super windy/storming/etc the wing flaps would be minimal.
dragons ships shipbuilding
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
So in my book, the majority of my society's medieval-era navy is pulled by at least one adult dragon. Adult dragons are huge; their heads alone are about the size of a medium-sized car. How might ship design change in order to accommodate the potential issues caused by a regular ship getting dragged behind a dragon that is the same size or larger than said ship?
These dragons have four limbs: 2 wings (which double as forelimbs when the dragon is not flying), and two hindlimbs. So technically, they are wyverns.
These are fire-breathing dragons. Temperament varies. Ship-pulling dragons would most likely be captive-bred dragons, so they're more tolerant of people and less likely to drown/consume the crew. They are somewhat spiky around the head. They have somewhat long tails with a scythe-like blade at the end. They could be distracted by prey but may have blinders on to prevent that. The dragon itself could contribute to firepower.
These are my dragons. I have them designed and behaving how I want. All I'm asking for is how a ship might be designed differently to be efficiently pulled by dragons, not how the dragons are going to react to it.
The dragons would most likely be flying low over the water instead of swimming, so most likely some sort of stabilization would be needed. They are capable of soaring long distances in the right conditions, so unless it was super windy/storming/etc the wing flaps would be minimal.
dragons ships shipbuilding
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
What kind of dragons are we talking here? Western six limbed fire breathers or Chinese four limbed magical wigglies?
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair enough. Previous comment cheerfully withdrawn
$endgroup$
– user535733
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Hello Guest, please edit your questions to include the answers to clarification requests. Never assume people will read the comments. If your answers aren't in the question itself, people will continue to vote to close. At this time, there's almost as much "question" in the comments as you have in the posted question. That should never be the case. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– JBH
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
How do these dragons propel themselves through the water? Do they "fly underwater" like penguins? Do they tuck their wings along their bodies instead? Do they undulate from side-to-side like fish or crocodiles? Do they undulate up-and-down, like whales? Do they kick with their hind legs, like a human swimmer?
$endgroup$
– Jasper
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
So in my book, the majority of my society's medieval-era navy is pulled by at least one adult dragon. Adult dragons are huge; their heads alone are about the size of a medium-sized car. How might ship design change in order to accommodate the potential issues caused by a regular ship getting dragged behind a dragon that is the same size or larger than said ship?
These dragons have four limbs: 2 wings (which double as forelimbs when the dragon is not flying), and two hindlimbs. So technically, they are wyverns.
These are fire-breathing dragons. Temperament varies. Ship-pulling dragons would most likely be captive-bred dragons, so they're more tolerant of people and less likely to drown/consume the crew. They are somewhat spiky around the head. They have somewhat long tails with a scythe-like blade at the end. They could be distracted by prey but may have blinders on to prevent that. The dragon itself could contribute to firepower.
These are my dragons. I have them designed and behaving how I want. All I'm asking for is how a ship might be designed differently to be efficiently pulled by dragons, not how the dragons are going to react to it.
The dragons would most likely be flying low over the water instead of swimming, so most likely some sort of stabilization would be needed. They are capable of soaring long distances in the right conditions, so unless it was super windy/storming/etc the wing flaps would be minimal.
dragons ships shipbuilding
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
$endgroup$
So in my book, the majority of my society's medieval-era navy is pulled by at least one adult dragon. Adult dragons are huge; their heads alone are about the size of a medium-sized car. How might ship design change in order to accommodate the potential issues caused by a regular ship getting dragged behind a dragon that is the same size or larger than said ship?
These dragons have four limbs: 2 wings (which double as forelimbs when the dragon is not flying), and two hindlimbs. So technically, they are wyverns.
These are fire-breathing dragons. Temperament varies. Ship-pulling dragons would most likely be captive-bred dragons, so they're more tolerant of people and less likely to drown/consume the crew. They are somewhat spiky around the head. They have somewhat long tails with a scythe-like blade at the end. They could be distracted by prey but may have blinders on to prevent that. The dragon itself could contribute to firepower.
These are my dragons. I have them designed and behaving how I want. All I'm asking for is how a ship might be designed differently to be efficiently pulled by dragons, not how the dragons are going to react to it.
The dragons would most likely be flying low over the water instead of swimming, so most likely some sort of stabilization would be needed. They are capable of soaring long distances in the right conditions, so unless it was super windy/storming/etc the wing flaps would be minimal.
dragons ships shipbuilding
dragons ships shipbuilding
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
edited 1 hour ago
Guest
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
GuestGuest
1767 bronze badges
1767 bronze badges
$begingroup$
What kind of dragons are we talking here? Western six limbed fire breathers or Chinese four limbed magical wigglies?
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair enough. Previous comment cheerfully withdrawn
$endgroup$
– user535733
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Hello Guest, please edit your questions to include the answers to clarification requests. Never assume people will read the comments. If your answers aren't in the question itself, people will continue to vote to close. At this time, there's almost as much "question" in the comments as you have in the posted question. That should never be the case. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– JBH
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
How do these dragons propel themselves through the water? Do they "fly underwater" like penguins? Do they tuck their wings along their bodies instead? Do they undulate from side-to-side like fish or crocodiles? Do they undulate up-and-down, like whales? Do they kick with their hind legs, like a human swimmer?
$endgroup$
– Jasper
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
What kind of dragons are we talking here? Western six limbed fire breathers or Chinese four limbed magical wigglies?
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair enough. Previous comment cheerfully withdrawn
$endgroup$
– user535733
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Hello Guest, please edit your questions to include the answers to clarification requests. Never assume people will read the comments. If your answers aren't in the question itself, people will continue to vote to close. At this time, there's almost as much "question" in the comments as you have in the posted question. That should never be the case. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– JBH
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
How do these dragons propel themselves through the water? Do they "fly underwater" like penguins? Do they tuck their wings along their bodies instead? Do they undulate from side-to-side like fish or crocodiles? Do they undulate up-and-down, like whales? Do they kick with their hind legs, like a human swimmer?
$endgroup$
– Jasper
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
What kind of dragons are we talking here? Western six limbed fire breathers or Chinese four limbed magical wigglies?
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
What kind of dragons are we talking here? Western six limbed fire breathers or Chinese four limbed magical wigglies?
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair enough. Previous comment cheerfully withdrawn
$endgroup$
– user535733
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair enough. Previous comment cheerfully withdrawn
$endgroup$
– user535733
6 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
Hello Guest, please edit your questions to include the answers to clarification requests. Never assume people will read the comments. If your answers aren't in the question itself, people will continue to vote to close. At this time, there's almost as much "question" in the comments as you have in the posted question. That should never be the case. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– JBH
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Hello Guest, please edit your questions to include the answers to clarification requests. Never assume people will read the comments. If your answers aren't in the question itself, people will continue to vote to close. At this time, there's almost as much "question" in the comments as you have in the posted question. That should never be the case. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– JBH
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
How do these dragons propel themselves through the water? Do they "fly underwater" like penguins? Do they tuck their wings along their bodies instead? Do they undulate from side-to-side like fish or crocodiles? Do they undulate up-and-down, like whales? Do they kick with their hind legs, like a human swimmer?
$endgroup$
– Jasper
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
How do these dragons propel themselves through the water? Do they "fly underwater" like penguins? Do they tuck their wings along their bodies instead? Do they undulate from side-to-side like fish or crocodiles? Do they undulate up-and-down, like whales? Do they kick with their hind legs, like a human swimmer?
$endgroup$
– Jasper
2 hours ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
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oldest
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$begingroup$
Speaking as a lifelong sailor, dealing with medieval construction, you would have to hugely overbuild a ship's prow to do it, the working life of ships would be really short, and sailors would be really seasick. Consider:
Dragons aren't sparrows. They wouldn't realistically do level flight: instead, they'd bob up and down as they flapped their wings. This would create a pronounced, repeated, and rapid pitch of the ship, unless you had the cabling go far far out to reduce the effect, and we're talking about maybe ten times the length of the ship or more. (You can just imagine how much fun this would make sailing in a heavily trafficked harbor or shipping lane.)
Short of "I don't care, I'm handwaving it 'cause it's cool to have ships towed by dragons," this isn't readily solvable.
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
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I guess, this will be a Frame Challenge.
By your description, the dragons seem ill-suited to be good swimmers. They are aerial, not aquatic, unless you have a water friendly type dragons. Just because you use dragons extensively, it doesn't mean they are well suited for every single task. Unless they can float passively in water, their range will depend on their stamina. They are living creatures so need to rest, eat, crap... That's not something you want in your long-range vessels.
Historically ships usually built, because you can move more and heavier cargo over water. Transportation, Logistics. With HUGE dragons around who can fly, it is ill suited for them to be used for pulling boats. It would be way more effective to design a flying vessel around them.
Scenario 1: If your dragons are abundant and easy and cheap to keep, flying vessels will be designed around them with almost no ships whatsoever existing and the technology not refined.
Scenario 2: If your dragons aren't abundant or easy and cheap to keep, wind sailing boats will be the mainstream to cut costs.
The military aspect:
They won't invest in developing dragon pulled ships, because they have no reason to. With dragons, they can maintain air superiority and can easily destroy any dragon pulled ship from high up. It would be an easy target, since the dragon would be restrained to pull the ship. HIGH GROUND rulez!
In case of Scenario 2, they will have a standing Navy, but they won't be dragon powered. They will have Navy supported air force ready near the coasts and if their range is limited, especially for the smaller, more agile dragons, they MAY develop huge Dragon-Carriers, to extend their range of operations. Mostly in huge seas or oceans.
Also, flying create a lot of wind, especially if the creature is huge. It would mess up finely the ship or carriage pulled by such a creature. I imagine there wouldn't be long rows of people wanting to travel that way.
In short, dragon lifted AIR ships? Sure, awesome! Boats? Unless the dragons swim, nope.
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
61613 bronze badges
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$begingroup$
Note: This answer assumes that the dragons propel the ship by swimming, not flying.
The ship's design combines features of a stage coach, a catamaran, and a horse harness.
The ships are catamarans. The dragon's body and tail are between the two hulls of the catamaran, and the dragon's head and shoulders are in front of the hulls.
The ship's hulls and deck(s) act as a shield for the dragon's body and tail. They also prevent the dragon from turning around to face the ship. Effectively, the dragon's head acts as the ship's prow, and the dragon's legs and/or tail act like the propeller of a modern ship.
There is a great big harness around the dragon's shoulders, which is used to pull the ship. Heavy-duty ropes connect the harness to the ship's deck, perhaps via holes in the deck. Crewmen on deck can adjust the tightness of the various ropes, or even release the ropes. In an emergency, the ropes can be severed to quickly free the dragon. Smaller ropes that connect to control surfaces on the dragon can be used to transmit commands to the dragon.
The ship's weapons include a catapult with a modest range. The catapult can toss supplies forward, so that the dragon can eat and drink without having to turn its head around.
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
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You don't have to pull them. Put the ships on dragon's back.
I'm assuming your dragons are water type like Chinese ones, which would mean they don't have wings and their bodies are long and snake like. In that case, you can put ships on their back and dragons can carry them while swimming on the surface. Maybe those ships would have to be a bit train wagon-like in design.
Or perhaps you could put some water mill "wheels" on the sides of the ship, or hire people to row/paddle the ship to help the dragon drag it.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
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4 Answers
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4 Answers
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active
oldest
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active
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$begingroup$
Speaking as a lifelong sailor, dealing with medieval construction, you would have to hugely overbuild a ship's prow to do it, the working life of ships would be really short, and sailors would be really seasick. Consider:
Dragons aren't sparrows. They wouldn't realistically do level flight: instead, they'd bob up and down as they flapped their wings. This would create a pronounced, repeated, and rapid pitch of the ship, unless you had the cabling go far far out to reduce the effect, and we're talking about maybe ten times the length of the ship or more. (You can just imagine how much fun this would make sailing in a heavily trafficked harbor or shipping lane.)
Short of "I don't care, I'm handwaving it 'cause it's cool to have ships towed by dragons," this isn't readily solvable.
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
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Ravenswing is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Speaking as a lifelong sailor, dealing with medieval construction, you would have to hugely overbuild a ship's prow to do it, the working life of ships would be really short, and sailors would be really seasick. Consider:
Dragons aren't sparrows. They wouldn't realistically do level flight: instead, they'd bob up and down as they flapped their wings. This would create a pronounced, repeated, and rapid pitch of the ship, unless you had the cabling go far far out to reduce the effect, and we're talking about maybe ten times the length of the ship or more. (You can just imagine how much fun this would make sailing in a heavily trafficked harbor or shipping lane.)
Short of "I don't care, I'm handwaving it 'cause it's cool to have ships towed by dragons," this isn't readily solvable.
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
New contributor
Ravenswing is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Speaking as a lifelong sailor, dealing with medieval construction, you would have to hugely overbuild a ship's prow to do it, the working life of ships would be really short, and sailors would be really seasick. Consider:
Dragons aren't sparrows. They wouldn't realistically do level flight: instead, they'd bob up and down as they flapped their wings. This would create a pronounced, repeated, and rapid pitch of the ship, unless you had the cabling go far far out to reduce the effect, and we're talking about maybe ten times the length of the ship or more. (You can just imagine how much fun this would make sailing in a heavily trafficked harbor or shipping lane.)
Short of "I don't care, I'm handwaving it 'cause it's cool to have ships towed by dragons," this isn't readily solvable.
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
New contributor
Ravenswing is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
Speaking as a lifelong sailor, dealing with medieval construction, you would have to hugely overbuild a ship's prow to do it, the working life of ships would be really short, and sailors would be really seasick. Consider:
Dragons aren't sparrows. They wouldn't realistically do level flight: instead, they'd bob up and down as they flapped their wings. This would create a pronounced, repeated, and rapid pitch of the ship, unless you had the cabling go far far out to reduce the effect, and we're talking about maybe ten times the length of the ship or more. (You can just imagine how much fun this would make sailing in a heavily trafficked harbor or shipping lane.)
Short of "I don't care, I'm handwaving it 'cause it's cool to have ships towed by dragons," this isn't readily solvable.
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
New contributor
Ravenswing is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
New contributor
Ravenswing is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
RavenswingRavenswing
312 bronze badges
312 bronze badges
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New contributor
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add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I guess, this will be a Frame Challenge.
By your description, the dragons seem ill-suited to be good swimmers. They are aerial, not aquatic, unless you have a water friendly type dragons. Just because you use dragons extensively, it doesn't mean they are well suited for every single task. Unless they can float passively in water, their range will depend on their stamina. They are living creatures so need to rest, eat, crap... That's not something you want in your long-range vessels.
Historically ships usually built, because you can move more and heavier cargo over water. Transportation, Logistics. With HUGE dragons around who can fly, it is ill suited for them to be used for pulling boats. It would be way more effective to design a flying vessel around them.
Scenario 1: If your dragons are abundant and easy and cheap to keep, flying vessels will be designed around them with almost no ships whatsoever existing and the technology not refined.
Scenario 2: If your dragons aren't abundant or easy and cheap to keep, wind sailing boats will be the mainstream to cut costs.
The military aspect:
They won't invest in developing dragon pulled ships, because they have no reason to. With dragons, they can maintain air superiority and can easily destroy any dragon pulled ship from high up. It would be an easy target, since the dragon would be restrained to pull the ship. HIGH GROUND rulez!
In case of Scenario 2, they will have a standing Navy, but they won't be dragon powered. They will have Navy supported air force ready near the coasts and if their range is limited, especially for the smaller, more agile dragons, they MAY develop huge Dragon-Carriers, to extend their range of operations. Mostly in huge seas or oceans.
Also, flying create a lot of wind, especially if the creature is huge. It would mess up finely the ship or carriage pulled by such a creature. I imagine there wouldn't be long rows of people wanting to travel that way.
In short, dragon lifted AIR ships? Sure, awesome! Boats? Unless the dragons swim, nope.
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
61613 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I guess, this will be a Frame Challenge.
By your description, the dragons seem ill-suited to be good swimmers. They are aerial, not aquatic, unless you have a water friendly type dragons. Just because you use dragons extensively, it doesn't mean they are well suited for every single task. Unless they can float passively in water, their range will depend on their stamina. They are living creatures so need to rest, eat, crap... That's not something you want in your long-range vessels.
Historically ships usually built, because you can move more and heavier cargo over water. Transportation, Logistics. With HUGE dragons around who can fly, it is ill suited for them to be used for pulling boats. It would be way more effective to design a flying vessel around them.
Scenario 1: If your dragons are abundant and easy and cheap to keep, flying vessels will be designed around them with almost no ships whatsoever existing and the technology not refined.
Scenario 2: If your dragons aren't abundant or easy and cheap to keep, wind sailing boats will be the mainstream to cut costs.
The military aspect:
They won't invest in developing dragon pulled ships, because they have no reason to. With dragons, they can maintain air superiority and can easily destroy any dragon pulled ship from high up. It would be an easy target, since the dragon would be restrained to pull the ship. HIGH GROUND rulez!
In case of Scenario 2, they will have a standing Navy, but they won't be dragon powered. They will have Navy supported air force ready near the coasts and if their range is limited, especially for the smaller, more agile dragons, they MAY develop huge Dragon-Carriers, to extend their range of operations. Mostly in huge seas or oceans.
Also, flying create a lot of wind, especially if the creature is huge. It would mess up finely the ship or carriage pulled by such a creature. I imagine there wouldn't be long rows of people wanting to travel that way.
In short, dragon lifted AIR ships? Sure, awesome! Boats? Unless the dragons swim, nope.
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
61613 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I guess, this will be a Frame Challenge.
By your description, the dragons seem ill-suited to be good swimmers. They are aerial, not aquatic, unless you have a water friendly type dragons. Just because you use dragons extensively, it doesn't mean they are well suited for every single task. Unless they can float passively in water, their range will depend on their stamina. They are living creatures so need to rest, eat, crap... That's not something you want in your long-range vessels.
Historically ships usually built, because you can move more and heavier cargo over water. Transportation, Logistics. With HUGE dragons around who can fly, it is ill suited for them to be used for pulling boats. It would be way more effective to design a flying vessel around them.
Scenario 1: If your dragons are abundant and easy and cheap to keep, flying vessels will be designed around them with almost no ships whatsoever existing and the technology not refined.
Scenario 2: If your dragons aren't abundant or easy and cheap to keep, wind sailing boats will be the mainstream to cut costs.
The military aspect:
They won't invest in developing dragon pulled ships, because they have no reason to. With dragons, they can maintain air superiority and can easily destroy any dragon pulled ship from high up. It would be an easy target, since the dragon would be restrained to pull the ship. HIGH GROUND rulez!
In case of Scenario 2, they will have a standing Navy, but they won't be dragon powered. They will have Navy supported air force ready near the coasts and if their range is limited, especially for the smaller, more agile dragons, they MAY develop huge Dragon-Carriers, to extend their range of operations. Mostly in huge seas or oceans.
Also, flying create a lot of wind, especially if the creature is huge. It would mess up finely the ship or carriage pulled by such a creature. I imagine there wouldn't be long rows of people wanting to travel that way.
In short, dragon lifted AIR ships? Sure, awesome! Boats? Unless the dragons swim, nope.
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
61613 bronze badges
$endgroup$
I guess, this will be a Frame Challenge.
By your description, the dragons seem ill-suited to be good swimmers. They are aerial, not aquatic, unless you have a water friendly type dragons. Just because you use dragons extensively, it doesn't mean they are well suited for every single task. Unless they can float passively in water, their range will depend on their stamina. They are living creatures so need to rest, eat, crap... That's not something you want in your long-range vessels.
Historically ships usually built, because you can move more and heavier cargo over water. Transportation, Logistics. With HUGE dragons around who can fly, it is ill suited for them to be used for pulling boats. It would be way more effective to design a flying vessel around them.
Scenario 1: If your dragons are abundant and easy and cheap to keep, flying vessels will be designed around them with almost no ships whatsoever existing and the technology not refined.
Scenario 2: If your dragons aren't abundant or easy and cheap to keep, wind sailing boats will be the mainstream to cut costs.
The military aspect:
They won't invest in developing dragon pulled ships, because they have no reason to. With dragons, they can maintain air superiority and can easily destroy any dragon pulled ship from high up. It would be an easy target, since the dragon would be restrained to pull the ship. HIGH GROUND rulez!
In case of Scenario 2, they will have a standing Navy, but they won't be dragon powered. They will have Navy supported air force ready near the coasts and if their range is limited, especially for the smaller, more agile dragons, they MAY develop huge Dragon-Carriers, to extend their range of operations. Mostly in huge seas or oceans.
Also, flying create a lot of wind, especially if the creature is huge. It would mess up finely the ship or carriage pulled by such a creature. I imagine there wouldn't be long rows of people wanting to travel that way.
In short, dragon lifted AIR ships? Sure, awesome! Boats? Unless the dragons swim, nope.
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
61613 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
61613 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
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answered 2 hours ago
LupusLupus
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61613 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Note: This answer assumes that the dragons propel the ship by swimming, not flying.
The ship's design combines features of a stage coach, a catamaran, and a horse harness.
The ships are catamarans. The dragon's body and tail are between the two hulls of the catamaran, and the dragon's head and shoulders are in front of the hulls.
The ship's hulls and deck(s) act as a shield for the dragon's body and tail. They also prevent the dragon from turning around to face the ship. Effectively, the dragon's head acts as the ship's prow, and the dragon's legs and/or tail act like the propeller of a modern ship.
There is a great big harness around the dragon's shoulders, which is used to pull the ship. Heavy-duty ropes connect the harness to the ship's deck, perhaps via holes in the deck. Crewmen on deck can adjust the tightness of the various ropes, or even release the ropes. In an emergency, the ropes can be severed to quickly free the dragon. Smaller ropes that connect to control surfaces on the dragon can be used to transmit commands to the dragon.
The ship's weapons include a catapult with a modest range. The catapult can toss supplies forward, so that the dragon can eat and drink without having to turn its head around.
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Note: This answer assumes that the dragons propel the ship by swimming, not flying.
The ship's design combines features of a stage coach, a catamaran, and a horse harness.
The ships are catamarans. The dragon's body and tail are between the two hulls of the catamaran, and the dragon's head and shoulders are in front of the hulls.
The ship's hulls and deck(s) act as a shield for the dragon's body and tail. They also prevent the dragon from turning around to face the ship. Effectively, the dragon's head acts as the ship's prow, and the dragon's legs and/or tail act like the propeller of a modern ship.
There is a great big harness around the dragon's shoulders, which is used to pull the ship. Heavy-duty ropes connect the harness to the ship's deck, perhaps via holes in the deck. Crewmen on deck can adjust the tightness of the various ropes, or even release the ropes. In an emergency, the ropes can be severed to quickly free the dragon. Smaller ropes that connect to control surfaces on the dragon can be used to transmit commands to the dragon.
The ship's weapons include a catapult with a modest range. The catapult can toss supplies forward, so that the dragon can eat and drink without having to turn its head around.
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Note: This answer assumes that the dragons propel the ship by swimming, not flying.
The ship's design combines features of a stage coach, a catamaran, and a horse harness.
The ships are catamarans. The dragon's body and tail are between the two hulls of the catamaran, and the dragon's head and shoulders are in front of the hulls.
The ship's hulls and deck(s) act as a shield for the dragon's body and tail. They also prevent the dragon from turning around to face the ship. Effectively, the dragon's head acts as the ship's prow, and the dragon's legs and/or tail act like the propeller of a modern ship.
There is a great big harness around the dragon's shoulders, which is used to pull the ship. Heavy-duty ropes connect the harness to the ship's deck, perhaps via holes in the deck. Crewmen on deck can adjust the tightness of the various ropes, or even release the ropes. In an emergency, the ropes can be severed to quickly free the dragon. Smaller ropes that connect to control surfaces on the dragon can be used to transmit commands to the dragon.
The ship's weapons include a catapult with a modest range. The catapult can toss supplies forward, so that the dragon can eat and drink without having to turn its head around.
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Note: This answer assumes that the dragons propel the ship by swimming, not flying.
The ship's design combines features of a stage coach, a catamaran, and a horse harness.
The ships are catamarans. The dragon's body and tail are between the two hulls of the catamaran, and the dragon's head and shoulders are in front of the hulls.
The ship's hulls and deck(s) act as a shield for the dragon's body and tail. They also prevent the dragon from turning around to face the ship. Effectively, the dragon's head acts as the ship's prow, and the dragon's legs and/or tail act like the propeller of a modern ship.
There is a great big harness around the dragon's shoulders, which is used to pull the ship. Heavy-duty ropes connect the harness to the ship's deck, perhaps via holes in the deck. Crewmen on deck can adjust the tightness of the various ropes, or even release the ropes. In an emergency, the ropes can be severed to quickly free the dragon. Smaller ropes that connect to control surfaces on the dragon can be used to transmit commands to the dragon.
The ship's weapons include a catapult with a modest range. The catapult can toss supplies forward, so that the dragon can eat and drink without having to turn its head around.
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
edited 2 hours ago
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
answered 2 hours ago
JasperJasper
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
3,42710 silver badges29 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You don't have to pull them. Put the ships on dragon's back.
I'm assuming your dragons are water type like Chinese ones, which would mean they don't have wings and their bodies are long and snake like. In that case, you can put ships on their back and dragons can carry them while swimming on the surface. Maybe those ships would have to be a bit train wagon-like in design.
Or perhaps you could put some water mill "wheels" on the sides of the ship, or hire people to row/paddle the ship to help the dragon drag it.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You don't have to pull them. Put the ships on dragon's back.
I'm assuming your dragons are water type like Chinese ones, which would mean they don't have wings and their bodies are long and snake like. In that case, you can put ships on their back and dragons can carry them while swimming on the surface. Maybe those ships would have to be a bit train wagon-like in design.
Or perhaps you could put some water mill "wheels" on the sides of the ship, or hire people to row/paddle the ship to help the dragon drag it.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
You don't have to pull them. Put the ships on dragon's back.
I'm assuming your dragons are water type like Chinese ones, which would mean they don't have wings and their bodies are long and snake like. In that case, you can put ships on their back and dragons can carry them while swimming on the surface. Maybe those ships would have to be a bit train wagon-like in design.
Or perhaps you could put some water mill "wheels" on the sides of the ship, or hire people to row/paddle the ship to help the dragon drag it.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
You don't have to pull them. Put the ships on dragon's back.
I'm assuming your dragons are water type like Chinese ones, which would mean they don't have wings and their bodies are long and snake like. In that case, you can put ships on their back and dragons can carry them while swimming on the surface. Maybe those ships would have to be a bit train wagon-like in design.
Or perhaps you could put some water mill "wheels" on the sides of the ship, or hire people to row/paddle the ship to help the dragon drag it.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
answered 6 hours ago
StelpaStelpa
112 bronze badges
112 bronze badges
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Stelpa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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$begingroup$
What kind of dragons are we talking here? Western six limbed fire breathers or Chinese four limbed magical wigglies?
$endgroup$
– Joe Bloggs
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
Fair enough. Previous comment cheerfully withdrawn
$endgroup$
– user535733
6 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
Hello Guest, please edit your questions to include the answers to clarification requests. Never assume people will read the comments. If your answers aren't in the question itself, people will continue to vote to close. At this time, there's almost as much "question" in the comments as you have in the posted question. That should never be the case. Thanks!
$endgroup$
– JBH
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
How do these dragons propel themselves through the water? Do they "fly underwater" like penguins? Do they tuck their wings along their bodies instead? Do they undulate from side-to-side like fish or crocodiles? Do they undulate up-and-down, like whales? Do they kick with their hind legs, like a human swimmer?
$endgroup$
– Jasper
2 hours ago